Identifying-mark for casks and boxes



UNITED STATES PATENT QEFFICE.

EDVARD A. LOGKE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

lDENTlFYlMG-MARK FOR CASKS ANU BOXES.

Specill'eation forming part of Letters Patent N0. 58,@417, dated October16, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that 1, EDWARD A. Locke, of Boston, in the county of Suitolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented lmproved Identifying-hilarksfor londen Casks and Cases; and I do hereby declare that the tbllowing,taken in connection with the drawing which accompanies and forms partot' this specitication, is a description of my invention sufiicicnttoenable those skilled in the art to practice it.

The invention relates to a means of attaching labels oridentifying-inarks to wooden casks, boxes, cases, Smc., the object ot'the iuvention being a provision tor readily and permanently securing thelabels in such position that it or the identit'ying-marks thereof cannotbe removed by a-brasion, contact, or other accidental circumstances.

The invention consists primarily in a ring or plate of metal, havingidentifying-marks applied to or connected therewith, such plate or ringhaving a lip turned down from its edge or edges in such manner or atsuch angle that when the plate is dropped into a depression or shallowcavity formed t'or its reception in the surt'ace ot' the cask or case towhich the plate is to be applied, and is struck a sharp blow by aninstrument bearing upon its outer surface adjacent to the lip, the edgesof said lip shall be forced outward or laterally into the wood, so as toconline the plate in position; also in combining with a ring so formedfor attachment to a cask or case a plate or plates, or a ring or rin 0s,so applied as to be capable et rotation in such ring, said rotary plat-cor plates having series ot' identifying or designating` marks, letters,or numbers, so arranged with respect to a slot or hole made through thering that any of the marks or numbers may be brought opposite this slotto be read through the saine; also, in so applying Ithese rotary ringsthat they are secured to the attachingplate and kept `in positionrelative thereto while being rotated.

The drawing represents a device embodying my invention, A showing anouter, and B an `inner, face View thereof; (l, a cross-section,

half ot' which shows the position of the parts when applied to a cask orcase. a denotes a ring or plate, upon the surface of which identifyingor designating marks may be made, either before or after application ofthe plate.

I) is the edge or perimeter ofthe plate, turned down at an anglepreferably about forty-tive degrees. In applying this plate a depressionis made by a suitable boring-tool in vthe surface of the cask or case towhich the plate is 'to be applied, ot a diameter corresponding to theouter diameter ot' the lip upon the plate a, and having a depth aboutequal to or exceeding the thickness of the plateincluding the lip. Theplate is dropped into this depression or cavity, and a tool is held uponits surface, so. as to bear around its upper surface adjacent to thelip, the tool being so t'orlned that by striking it a sharp blow theedge of the lip will be turned outwardly and driven laterally into thewood beyond the cavity, as seen at C. The plate is preferably madecircular for convenience in boring the circular depression to receiveit; but it will be obvious that it may be made rectangular, or ot anyother shape which may be desirable.

This is the simplest form ot' the invention, and instead of having' themarks directly on the surface ot' the plate a, they may be on a separatecentral plate, to be read through a hole made in the center of the platea.. For using a series of identifying or designating marks, however, Imake the plate ain the form of a ring, and apply thereto one or morecircular plates, c d, around the edge ot which are designating-marks,which may be successively brought opposite to a hole or slot, e, made inthe plate a., and so as to be read through the same. 'Vhen two suchplates are employed, one is made rotary with respect to the other, andeach with respect to the attaching-plate a, the edge of one,t'orinstance, bearing in regular succession abbreviations of the months, andthe edge ot' the other numbers designating the days otl the month, sothat any month and any day in connection therewith may be broughtopposite to andl read through the hole c, the rest being concealed byplate a.

To insure proper rotation of the plates, the plate c may have acircula-r bead struck up from it to tit the inner circular edge ot thering a, which may be slightly turned down, and when the plate d isemployed the two may have beads struck up together, litting one withinthe other.

To secure the identifying plate or plates to the plate a, the lip b maybe cutaway, as seen at f, and a confining-strip, g, laid diametricallyacross the inner surface of the plate c or d, with its ends turned upand clinched over the top of the plate a, this confining-strip not onlysecuring the plates together, but admitting of their free rotation withrespect to each other.

The device being applied, as before de scribed, by taking a punch andstriking down a spur from the upper surface of the plate a, y

as seen at h, the identifyingplates are fast-` ened in position withreference to the attached plate a, and so that this cannot besubsequently rotated, thus retaining in position the means ofidentication, which at the liine of applying the device Were broughtinto position to be read through the slot e.

In the attachment of revenue-marks, trademarks, or otheridentifying-marks, letters, or numbers to wooden oasks, boxes, or cases,the simplicity and utility of these devices will be obvious. They areeasily applied, a-re not detachable by abrasion, contact, or jar, andalways afford a reliable means of ascertaining or reproducing the factsindicated by the arrangement of the marks at the time'of attachnient.

I claiml. A circular or other suitably-shaped plate, provided Withidentifying-marks, and having a lip turned down from its edge,substantially as described.

2. The employment of a circular or other proper-shaped plate, providedwith such lip, driven into the wood at the sides of the cavity ordepression in which the plate isinserted, substantially as described.

3. Combining with such attaching-plate one or more rotary identifyingrings or plates, operated, in connection with the attaching-plate,substantially as set forth.

4. Coniining the attaching and identifying plates or rings together, sothat while held together they may be respectively rotated, substantially as described.

EDWARD A. LOCKE.

Vitnesses:

J. B. CROSBY, F. GoULD.

